Multimedia

Narratives

Site Information

Who's Who - Josef Kiss

Josef Kiss (1916-1918) scored
19 victories as a leading Austro-Hungarian
air ace during
the First World War.

Sponsored Links

Born on 26 January 1896 to
Hungarian parents in Pozsony (now Bratislava) Kiss, like many others, was prompt
in enlisting for the Austro-Hungarian cause when
war was declared against Serbia on 28 July 1914.

On 26 October 1914 Kiss was
despatched to serve against Russian forces with the 72nd Infantry Regiment.
Receiving a heavy wound in the Carpathians Kiss was sent home to recuperate,
during which time he developed a keen interest in joining the army's air arm.
In consequence Kiss was accepted for flight training at Wiener-Neustadt.

Emerging from training in April
1916 Kiss was assigned to Flik 24 in the south Tyrol, initially as an observer.
Entrusted shortly afterwards with full pilot's duties Kiss opened his 'kill'
tally on 20 June 1916 while flying a Hansa-Brandenburg C.I. While attached
to Flik 24 Kiss amassed a total of six air successes.

November 1917 brought Kiss a
posting to Flik 55j in the Trentino where he formed a friendship with
Julius Arigi. Flying
an Albatross D.III painted black with 'K' emblazoned on both sides of the
aircraft's fuselage, Kiss achieved mounting success, for which he received no
fewer than eight medals in recognition of his fearless (almost reckless)
courage. In concert with Arigi and Josef von Maier the threesome became
known as 'the squadron of the Emperor' (Kaiser Staffel).

Discouraged to discover that he
had been turned down for promotion to officer rank on account of his humble
background - his father was a gardener at the Pozsony military academy - Kiss
nonetheless continued to amass a growing tally of kills despite being shot down
seriously wounded in late January 1918.

By the time of his death on 25
May 1918 - killed in action over Valsugana - Kiss had achieved 19 victories.
Somewhat belatedly he was promoted posthumously to Lieutenant.